Contraband Police is a first-person simulation game developed by Crazy Rocks, a small indie team from Poland. Transported back to 1981, it is your job to stop smuggling, corruption, and forgery. Contraband Police is available now on the PlayStation Store for £24.99.
Ready for duty?
Using my real-life skills as a Police Detective, will I be able to become the best border guard inspector the Acarist People’s Republic has ever seen? Join me to find out & let me know how you’ve fared!
Gameplay
In Contraband Police, you are a young trainee officer assigned to work a border post in the mountain region of Karitkatka. The year is 1981, with entry into the Acarist People’s Republic being strictly regulated. Every move is monitored. In this new post, it is your job to ensure that entry is only given to those who are allowed. You must not let anyone slip through; otherwise, you will be penalised. There are several checks that must be completed to ensure this. More ways are being added as the game progresses.
Firstly, you must have a keen eye for detail. Every visitor must have a valid set of documents. The details need to match across all documentation; any discrepancies will lead to refusal. Sometimes, these criminals will also try and smuggle prohibited items over the border. Using your trusty UV light will help you identify any issues with goods being transported, or even hiding spaces within the vehicles.
As the game progresses, more tools are at your disposal. For example, the weight of the vehicle becomes a factor. It must be under the maximum load to allow entry. Further to this, even having more than 3 cosmetic issues with your car (such as a broken window) can lead to refusal. Thankfully, your trusty folder will hold all of this information. And, if you ever forget anything, the duty handbook will point you in the right direction.
Glory to Acaristan!
While searching for contraband is the name of the game, there is plenty more to do. Once contraband is found, you will need to store it before transporting everything to a base. On the way, you may become a target for gangs keen to get their items back. In addition to this, those captured criminals will also need to go somewhere. Using your trusty vehicle, you can transport them to the mines in exchange for money.
As the game progresses, development is needed. Upgrades to custody and storage rooms allow you to hold more. However, don’t hold them in the cells for too long, or an escape may happen. I learnt that the hard way…
Special assignments will also be asked of you. My favourite is helping the Police with solving a murder, but there is a small variety of different tasks. These help to provide you with extra money, which you can use to develop the checkpoint.
Graphics & Audio
The atmosphere of Contraband Police, through its graphics and audio, certainly plays into the communist theme Crazy Rocks is aiming for. The grey weariness through its colours, but also its audio, makes you feel like you are in the Soviet communist era. While the graphics are nothing spectacular, it does well to make you feel as if you are experiencing the era yourself.
Longevity
From the game selection alone, there is plenty to delve into with Contraband Police. Firstly, there is the campaign mode, Burning Empire. The decisions you make affect the course of the game. Next, there is the endless shift mode. This allows for unlimited gameplay, where you climb the ranks and restore the outpost to its former glory. Lastly, there is the border league. This is a ranked mode where you compete with players around the world.
There is certainly plenty to choose from, and while there will be concerns of predictability with the game. I am certainly enjoying my time with it thus far.
Final Thoughts
Contraband Police has certainly surpassed my expectations. Never would I have thought that looking through documents and searching through contraband outside of my job would be fun. I am excited to experience the DLC mode Crimson Fall, which is due to come soon.
I will therefore be awarding Contraband Police with the Thumb Culture Platinum Award.
Disclaimer: A code was received in order to write this review.
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